The K9 unit, Bear, was one of the many numerous K9 units asked to help federal agents in searching a cargo ship ported in Philadelphia, according to a news release from the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Wednesday that the final weight of the 15,000-plus bricks of cocaine seized from the Swiss-owned MSC Gayane was more than 39,500 pounds, or almost 18,000 kilograms, with a street value estimated at nearly $1.3 billion.

That amount was more than officials initially estimated.

“There was so much cocaine suspected on board, and so many containers to search, that investigators called for assistance from other drug-detecting K9s – including Bear and his handler, Detective Anthony Lombardo,” according to the news release.

Lombardo and Bear were on the ship for a full day’s work. Lombardo couldn’t disclose details of the search, but said Bear was initially “taken aback” by the size of the ship before settling in and working effectively.

“This was a historic bust, and Bear and I were honored to have been a part of it,” Lombardo said in the release.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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